Recipe

Cà Phê Nâu Đá

Name: Cà Phê Nâu Đá (Hà Nội iced milk coffee)
Prep time: 2 min
Cook time: 6 min
Total time: 8 min
Yield: 1 glass
Cuisine: Vietnamese
Ingredients: 20 g Hanoi Haze, medium-fine grind; 1 tbsp sweetened condensed milk, about 15 g; 30 ml cold fresh milk; 100 ml hot water, 90–96 °C; 1 glass ice cubes

Hà Nội iced milk coffee

In Hà Nội, coffee with milk is called cà phê nâu, brown coffee, after its colour. Our version pairs Hanoi Haze, our 100% Arabica, with a little less condensed milk and a splash of fresh milk, so the coffee's floral, citrus side comes through.

Prep: 2 min
Brew: 6 min
Total: 8 min
Makes: 1 glass

IcedHanoi Haze

Ingredients

Tick things off as you go.

20 g Hanoi Hazemedium-fine grind
1 tbsp sweetened condensed milkabout 15 g
30 ml cold fresh milk
100 ml hot water90–96 °C
1 glass ice cubes

You'll need

Phin filter
Heatproof glass or cup
Tall glass for serving

Method

Step 1: Milk in first

Spoon the condensed milk into a heatproof glass and set the phin on top.
Step 2: Load the phin

Add the Hanoi Haze, level it and rest the press on top. Press lightly.
Step 3: Bloom

Pour about 20 ml of hot water to wet the coffee and let it swell.
30 s
Step 4: Slow drip

Add the remaining 80 ml, put the lid on and let it drip onto the milk.
4–5 min
Step 5: Turn it brown

Stir the coffee and condensed milk together, add the cold fresh milk and stir until it's an even light brown. Pour over a tall glass of ice.

Tips

Lighter or darker

More fresh milk gives a paler, softer nâu; leave it out for a coffee closer to the southern sữa đá.

Why Arabica here

Hanoi Haze, from Lai Châu at 1,200–1,300 m, has floral and citrus notes with a light nutty sweetness. A lighter hand with the milk lets them show.

Brown, not milky

Southern Vietnam says cà phê sữa, coffee with milk. The north says cà phê nâu, brown coffee, after the colour in the glass. Same idea, different words, and in Hà Nội's small cafés it's often drunk slower and a little lighter.

Questions

What's the difference between nâu đá and sữa đá?

Mostly the region: nâu is the northern word, sữa the southern. Our nâu đá uses a softer Arabica and less condensed milk, so it's lighter than our sữa đá made with Saigon Drip.